Guwahati, Feb. 17: Union minister for health and family welfare J.P. Nadda this evening used the inaugural function of the state-of-the-art cancer hospital here to not only convey the Centre's commitment to the development of the Northeast but also matched the commitment with special announcements for Assam's health sector.

Nadda, who visited Dhubri and Guwahati today on the first leg of his two-day visit to the state, inaugurated the cancer hospital, five Amrit (Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment) pharmacies for Dibrugarh, Tezpur, Silchar, Barpeta and Jorhat medical colleges through videoconferencing and signed two memoranda of understanding - one to include all 27 district hospitals under the Amrit scheme and another for an infertility clinic involving the government and Pratiksha Hospital.

That is not all.

In his speech, Nadda declared the cancer hospital attached to Gauhati Medical College a "state cancer institute" on the request of state health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. He said since the state government had set up the first phase of the cancer hospital with its own funds (Rs 90 crore), the Centre would not lag behind.

"I declare this hospital a state cancer institute, making it eligible for an additional central fund of Rs 120 crore. We will also return the Rs 90 crore that you have spent besides alloting Rs 45 crore for Dibrugarh tertiary cancer care centre. We will further consider the request to have similar facilities at Jorhat and Silchar," Nadda said at the packed GMCH auditorium.

The Union minister, who will tomorrow launch the construction work of a hospital in Nagaon before leaving for Agartala, added, "Our Prime Minister has openly admitted that the East lags behind in development compared to the West (of the country). The Centre is committed to the development of the eastern part, the Northeast, and welfare of the poor. It is not a slogan. If Guwahati grows, the Northeast will benefit. We are also looking at providing free dialysis in the 27 district hospitals for people below the poverty line and at concessional rates for people above the poverty line."

Sarma said the 200-bed cancer hospital with its experts and modern equipment would provide the best of treatment by the best of doctors.

"We are also planning to have a bone marrow unit. Our job is to fuel hopes of a bright future and then work towards realising these dreams," he said.